Garry Cook: Through Endeavour To The Stars

As the rags prepare for their Champions League clash with the brilliant Barcelona in Rome, MCFC CEO Garry Cook underlines City's aims via the club's annual end of season DVD...

The bullish and determined Cook repeated City's targets:

'People say our ambitions are too high but I don't see a problem with having the ambition to be the best in England and then Europe. It is about building a culture of success here - not one of survival.

'I want to be competing with United one day and I have no reason to think we won't be.'

The man who Blues are slowly warming to following his commitment to fans meetings and preparedness to listen went on to confirm City's intentions this close season:

'Now we must work hard all summer to add strength to the club. It is the best time to do transfer business because January is hard. Summer is vital preparation time for the new season and unless you have that it impacts against your capabilities at the start of the season.

'For the first time in three years this club is going into the pre-season with the same people at the helm and we feel good about that.'

Considering His Highness Sheikh Mansour's shrewd and mightily powerful management team only bought Manchester City once the last season had begun less than a year ago, we can expect to see continued big changes around SportCity now the new owners have breathing space to continue their quest and build upon what has already been completed.

Via his programme notes for the last game of the season Cook confirmed:

'When you come back in August, you will see that we have continued to improve our match day offering, as more work is done to our catering areas and to the internal look and feel of the stadium itself. All this has come about after consultation with you, our supporters; by listening to your suggestions and acting on them and to add to this two-way feedback.

Next season will see us launch a new programme of visits to our supporters' clubs which will supplement the fan roadshows that Mark Hughes and I have already hosted this year at the stadium. We have and will continue to seek the views of fans as we continue to improve on everything we do.'

It's already well documented that work is underway to construct a new office complex at Eastlands for City's operations and community teams. The club are committed to a new museum project and above all else, a new £80 million training base close SportCity, which will see the squad leave Carrington and move closer to home.

Impressive stuff. And if all that wasn't enough, this week's announcement of a multi million pounds main sponsorship deal with Etihad Airways is a very real statement of intent.

Etihad this week launched their Manchester City website which boasts a promotional MCFC/Etihad video which includes a tour of the club's recently constructed state of the art gymnasium facility.

'For the first time in three years this club is going into the pre-season with the same people at the helm and we feel good about that.' I am glad to hear that Mr Cook. Let's hope they are the right people.